Vedanta, Posco have to follow the law: Ramesh

Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said the government won't tolerate any violation of the Forest Act by any corporate and will decide future of the Vedanta and Posco projects in Orissa after the probe panels submit their reports.

Both Posco and Vedanta have to comply with the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and the Forest Right Act of 2006, Ramesh said, adding "the government will not tolerate any violation of the Forest Conservation Act or any violation of the conditions," he said.

Both Vedanta Resources' bauxite mining project and Posco's Rs 54,000-crore steel project in Orissa are under the scanner of the Ministry due to alleged violation of the Forest Conservation Act.

"The four-member committee under the chairmanship of N C Saxena will submit a detailed report on Vedanta soon. (Future course of) action will be decided after that," Ramesh said.

In the case of Posco, the committee, which was formed to check alleged violations, will visit the site on August 18, he added. The report is expected in the first week of September.

The minister was in Mumbai on Saturday to assess the impact of the oil slick off the Mumbai coast.

Commenting on the oil spill, he said the country needs to be a part of international conventions such as the International Maritime Organisation's Bunker's Convention so that it could claim higher and quicker compensation for damages in such situations.